NUNEATON adapted well to the wet conditions at Claro Road to cement their own mid-table position and send their hosts to the bottom of National Division Three North.

It was a comfortable win for Nuns in an entertaining but somewhat one-sided encounter which saw them withstand a strong start by the home side before hitting back with two tries in the first 23 minutes as their forwards took a grip they never relinquished.

Nuns broke through on 16 minutes from the platform of a penalty, line-out and driving maul with flanker Alex Shaw claiming the touchdown, and back row partner John Munro added the finishing touch seven minutes later when the pack again drove over, Gareth Cull adding both conversions.

After another six minutes it was the turn of the backs as swift hands spread the ball wide for Lee Parry to scramble over in the corner, and although Cull's conversion attempt flew away to safety off the upright, he completed the half with a penalty while the home side were down to 14 men with winger Dan Venn in the sin bin for a 22-0 lead at the break.

Nuns only had to wait until eight minutes into the second half to secure their four-try bonus point, Jody Peacock collecting a perfectly judged crossfield kick and breaking two tackles before touching down in the corner.

Harrogate's only real tryscoring opportunity came on 57 minutes, but they squandered a four-man overlap and the ball went to ground in front of Nuneaton's posts.

There was some consolation for the hosts when they were awarded a penalty try, converted by Nick Waynewright, for an infringement on the ground, but Nuns sealed their victory on 69 minutes when another superb crossfield kick by Cull caught the home defence on the back foot. Parry looked certain to score his second try only to be pulled back by his opposite number, and the referee duly awarded another penalty try which Cull converted.